"One hundred thousand—didn’t you say earlier you wanted additional investment? This hundred thousand will be under my mother-in-law’s name, purely as shares for dividends."
Qin Nian made a bold decision.
"Agreed!"
The three of them redistributed their shares, with management rights still in Fan Juan’s hands. With this, they secured an additional three hundred thousand in funding.
Qin Nian took out the household registration booklet—back then, regulations weren’t as strict.
The three thousand in cash remained untouched. She withdrew the money from the family’s small savings account early and didn’t redeposit it, bringing the remaining funds back home instead.
"Mom, you didn’t go out today?"
Qin Nian had assumed no one would be home.
"No, the kids are off tomorrow for the weekend, so I thought I’d tidy up the house today. Aunt Wang isn’t going out either."
"Mom, here’s the rest of the money. The gold sold for one hundred eighty thousand, and I converted it into shares for you. You’ll receive dividends every year."
"Why is it under my name? That’s such a large amount! I thought it wouldn’t be much. Is the money enough?"
Yang Yufen was stunned.
"It’s enough. We might not see returns this year, but next year for sure."
"If Nian says it’ll work, then it will. But I’m afraid I might damage the documents if I keep them in the cabinet—you hold onto them. Why is there so much left here?"
Yang Yufen noticed the money in the bag—everything taken from Gui Xiang the day before was still there.
"I spent the bulk of what you gave me, Mom. This is what’s left. You should keep it."
Qin Nian insisted.
"Well, there’s something I’ve been meaning to discuss with you."
Yang Yufen had been thinking about it all day. If things didn’t work out, she’d drop the mountain lease idea—but unexpectedly, things had taken a turn for the better.
"Go ahead, Mom."
"Aunt Wang and I found a plot of land—Dean Li from the Agricultural Academy recommended it. It’s perfect for growing fruit trees, and the rent is cheap. The money at home is just sitting there, and gold prices are high now. Besides, we have enough space in the house."
"But Mom, won’t growing fruit trees be too exhausting?"
Qin Nian couldn’t help but worry.
"Since we’ll be planting a lot, we won’t do it all ourselves—we’ll hire help. Don’t worry, my health is fine. I promise I won’t cause any trouble for you."
Yang Yufen reassured her.
"As long as it makes you happy, Mom. And honestly, this money is all yours anyway. You should use it however you want. I think it’s better for you to manage it. Without you, our family wouldn’t have this much to begin with."
Qin Nian thought for a moment before continuing.
"Mom, how about you handle our family’s finances from now on? I’ll ask you when I need money. I’ll have Xianjun install a safe in your room too."
She thought her idea was brilliant.
"An old woman like me managing your household’s money? Oh, you silly girl."
Yang Yufen waved her off.
"You’re not old! Please, just do this for me, okay?"
Qin Nian couldn’t help but pout, and Yang Yufen’s smile widened uncontrollably.
"Alright, alright, you little rascal!"
Yang Yufen laughed heartily, her joy echoing beyond the walls.
Next door, surprisingly, Wang Shuo and his wife kept their heads down, silent.
"I’m just informing you of this decision. Miaomiao is old enough for nursery school now. You two may have respectable jobs, but you don’t earn much. Raising girls isn’t the same as raising boys—they need more resources."
Aunt Wang had been educated, usually gentle and kind, but she was the most authoritative figure in the household. Even without a husband by her side, she had single-handedly raised her son.
Before marrying her husband, she knew he was ambitious but wouldn’t be a family man. She didn’t mind—she had never relied on a man to survive. She had raised her son to be honest and dutiful, fulfilling her duty as a mother.
"Mom, of course we’ll follow your decision."
Fang Fen was the first to agree. Her mother-in-law had accepted her bringing a daughter into the marriage and treated both her children well. Fang Fen couldn’t ask for more—especially since her mother-in-law was spending her own money and not pressuring them to contribute.
"Good. You two are doing fine. I won’t be around forever—everything will be yours eventually. Shuo works in agriculture, though he’s not much of a businessman. Yaoyao is bright—just raise both girls well."
"Grandma, you’re the best!"
Yaoyao leaned against Aunt Wang’s knees. She had worried Grandma would favor her younger sister, but Grandma always treated them equally—even telling her sister to listen to her and asking her opinion first when buying things.
"That’s because our Yaoyao is so clever and well-behaved."
Aunt Wang ruffled Yaoyao’s hair affectionately.
The two old friends stuffed the money into a fertilizer bag, tossed it into the tricycle, and set off after a day’s rest—it was time to make an appearance.
As the tricycle roared to life, wind whistling past their ears, the two elderly women headed straight to the fields to help transport fertilizer.
"Xiao Wang, how’s the mountain lease discussion going in your family?"
Wang Shuo had just arrived at the office when Director Zhou stopped him, cheerfully pouring hot water into his teacup and adding tea leaves.
"Director, no need for such hospitality. My mother did mention it, but I’m not the one calling the shots—you’ll have to talk to her."
"Where is Aunt Wang? I didn’t see her yesterday either."
"Yesterday, Mom and Godmother took the day off. Today, they said they’d help haul fertilizer—they probably went straight to the fields."
"Why didn’t you say so earlier? I might miss them! Alright, I’m off."
Director Zhou hurried away, leaving Wang Shuo behind.
Wang Shuo rubbed the back of his head, chuckling, then picked up his teacup—only to burn his lips.
Director Zhou rushed after the tricycle, waving as it approached—but it sped right past him.
"Was that Director Zhou just now?"
Yang Yufen asked uncertainly.
"Maybe, but he didn’t say anything. He must be busy. Let’s get to the fields—we can’t delay fertilizing those saplings."
At Aunt Wang’s words, Yang Yufen picked up speed again.
Those were the future trees of their orchard—that took priority. Whatever Director Zhou wanted could wait.
Director Zhou wiped his face.
Cough—since when is the wind this strong? Ugh, dirt even got in my mouth!
He turned his bicycle around, pedaling furiously to catch up.
When he reached the fields, he spotted the familiar tricycle first, parked his bike beside it, and hurried in.
"Aunties, we had to use wheelbarrows yesterday without you—it was so slow! We really don’t know what we’d do without you."
A familiar student came over to help Yang Yufen and Aunt Wang.
"You didn’t get a day off yesterday? Even the elementary school kids are on break—why aren’t you?"
Yang Yufen’s innocent question felt like a knife to the hearts of the agriculture students present.
